What isn't safe to eat during pregnancy?

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When you are pregnant, your immune system changes so that its main purpose is to protect your developing baby. This means that you can be more susceptible to food borne illnesses or food poisoning.

There are some foods you'll have to give up or cut down on during pregnancy, because they could cause serious health problems for you or your baby.

Raw or undercooked eggs

Raw, runny or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria. Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm.

Don't eat mousse, ice cream and fresh mayonnaise from restaurants as these may contain raw egg. However, salad dressings that you buy in supermarkets, such as mayonnaise, are usually made using pasteurised egg, so are safe to eat.

Certain varieties of meat and meat products

Liver isn't safe to eat during pregnancy. However, all other fresh meats are fine. Just make sure you cook meat thoroughly until there are no pink bits in the centre and the juices run clear. Be extra careful when cooking meat on a barbecue, or as part of a microwavable ready meal. If you choose to eat tandoori or grilled items like tikkas and kebabs, make sure they are well done.

All pâté, whether made from meat, fish or vegetables, may contain listeria bacteria, which can harm your baby.

Fish

Oily fish is good for you and your baby, but it can contain environmental pollutants (PCBs). So it's best to eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week.

Other types of fish and shellfish may have similar levels of dioxins and PCBs to oily fish. These are sea bream, turbot, halibut, dogfish (also called rock salmon or huss), crab and sea bass. So limit how much you eat of these fish to two portions a week.

Don't eat any shark, swordfish and marlin. These fish contain unsafe levels of naturally occurring mercury. Tuna (chura) contains some mercury too, so it's best you don't eat more than four medium-sized cans, or two fresh tuna steaks per week.

Raw fish and raw shellfish isn't safe when you're pregnant, because it can cause food poisoning.

Some cheeses and dairy products

Cheeses with a white, mouldy rind, such as brie and camembert, and blue-veined cheeses. Also steer clear of unpasteurised soft cheeses, such as those made from sheep and goat's milk. All these cheeses could contain listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis that may harm your baby.

Unpasteurised milk and dairy products made with unpasteurised milk aren't safe during pregnancy. They are more likely to contain bacteria that could give you food poisoning.

Raw milk can also carry bacteria which cause diarrhoea, or infections like TB.

While eating out, avoid cottage cheese (paneer) preparations like tikkas and raw paneer sandwiches and salads as it may be difficult to tell if the paneer is fresh enough.

Drinks and beverages

It's best not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. That's two cups of instant coffee, two cups of tea or five cans of cola a day. Drinking lots of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. You could switch to decaffeinated drinks instead.

It's best to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you want to drink during your pregnancy, don't drink more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don't get drunk.

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Comments

Hi I'm 32 with first pregnancy. I really appreciate the info on safe foods. I'm 9wks and already had food poisoning. i would like to know if u already have lots of acid in The stomach would ginger really help morning sickness?